Motor-vehicle construction



25 192 Oct 7 H. E. CURTIS MOTOR VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 8. 1924Q Illn mmawt my w N Dmzuwmm Patented Get. 25, 1927.

UNETED .s'iATES r 1,647,084 PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY E. CURTIS, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORN IA, A SSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T JOHNH.

BETTS, OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

MOTORVEHICLE' CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed m 8, 1924. Serial No. 724,859.

It is one object of my invention to provide a vehicle chassls in whichthe body and motor are mounted upon separate but resiliently connectedframes' It is another object of the invention to provide a vehicle inwhich the subframe is reframe.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a structure inwhich thesubframe and parts mounted thereon may be quickly and easilydetached from the body frame and separated as a unit therefrom.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a-structure inwhich the vibrations induced by the action of the motor aresubstantially all absorbed before reaching the body frame, and one thatis simple in construction, economical to manufacture, strong, durable,and highly efficient in its practical application.

Further objects and advantages will ap pear in the followingspecification and in the drawings forming a part thereof, in which,

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section through the body and subframesand showing the front elevation of a typical connecting unit, partly'insection.

Figure 2 is a plan view of one end of the unit at its point of.attachment to the body frame.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the draw ing, 1 indicates the body frameand 2 the subframe.

At 3 is shown .a cross beam forked at each end as at 4, the outer endsof each fork being joined by a horizontal web 5, and the base of thefork having a'horizontal web 6 formed therein. The forks H are drilledat 7 to permit the insertion of a bolt 8 therethrough substantiallymidway between webs and 6. Beam 3 is mounted on body frame 1 by means ofbolts 9 engaging webs 5 and frame 1.

At 10 I show a shackle pivotally mounted on bolts 8, each shacklecarrying an inwardly directed boss 11 tapped to receivea capscrew 12carrying a'locknut 13,.this screw being so placed as to engage the underside of the adjacent web 6.

Each shackle 10 is forked as at 14 at its lower end and drilled at 15 toreceive a bolt 16, the bolts 16 carrying spring 17.

The leaves 18 of spring 17 are systematically arranged on' both upperand lower sides of central element 19 and secured by a bolt 20 passingthrough their centers.

7 At 21 is shown a bridge bar secured to the under side of spring 17 byyokes 22 and to the inner sides of the opposing side members of subframe2' by bolts 23.

The engine is carried by subframe 2, its position being indicatedformally by dotted lines 24. The body is mounted on frame 1 anditsposition is indicated in a formal manner by dotted lines 25.

Assuming the, subframe to be carried by the body frame through themedium of a plurality of units constructed as heretofore de .scribed, orstructures equivalent thereto, the assembly presents the followingdesired characteri'stics.

Upon the removal of bolts 9 the subframe 2 and all parts carried therebymay be separated as a unit from the body frame 1. It is necessary todisconnect or separate such parts as the drive shaft, but since such features are notessential' parts of the present invention they are notillustrated herein. This quick and easy separation of the two frames isparticularly valuable in truck and motor-bus construction since oneoperating mechanism may be'removed for repairs ortuning up and anotheroperating mechanism inserted in place thereof during such repairoperations, thereby obviating the necessity of retiring the entire truckor bus from active service. This feature obviously permits materialreduction of the number of body frames and parts carried thereby to thenumber actually required in active service, while only the subframes andassociated motors and parts need be provided in excess of the numberrequired for active service.

The swinging of the shackles 10 on bolts 8 increases the adaptability ofthe chassis to road conditions since the entire subframe. may swinglaterally a distance determined by the position of capscrews 14 relativeto Web stops 6. This flexibility of the subframe structure obviouslyrelieves the body frame of a large proportion of the vibrations andshocks that would be quickly transmitted to it if the'shaekleconstruction were rigid.

Furthermore, the lower ends of shackles 10 are drawn inwardly wheneverthe vertical movement of subframe 2 bows the spring 17 upwardly ordownwardly, and the amplitude of the spring action may be governed bythe adjustment of screws 14.

Finally, it is pointed out that the vibration due to operation of theengine carried by subframe 2 and the abnormal stresses and strainsdeveloped when starting the en; gine or operating under abnormalconditions, are almost entirely absorbed by the structure insertedbetween frames 1 and 2 so that the body frame and parts carried therebyare practically unaffected by said vibrations. Also the torque reactionsof the engine developed in starting and stopping of the loads iscompletely absorbedby this structure.

It is to be understood, of course, that while I have herein shown anddescribed one specific embodiment of the invention, changes in form,construction and method of operation may be made within the scope of theappended claims.

I claim 1. In a motor vehicle, a body frame, a support connecting thesides of the frame, a sub-frame adapted to carry a power plant,connecting means between the support carried by the body frame andsub-frame, means to permit lateral movement of the sub-frame and meanscontacting with the support to limit the lateral movement of thesub-frame with respect to the body frame.

2. In a motor vehicle, a body frame, a support connecting the sides ofthe'frame. a sub-frame adapted to carry a power plant, depending linkscarried. by the support, resilient means connected at its opposite endsto the links and supportin the sub-frame, said resilient'means beingsimilarly formed on opposite sides of its longitudinal axis,

means to permit vertical and lateral movement of the sub-frame withrespect to the other and means carried by the links and body frame tolimit said movements of the sub-frame.

3. In a motor vehicle, a body frame, a sub-frame adapted to carry apower plant, means connecting the frames to permit transverse swingingmovement of the subframe, including a spring element similarly formed onopposite sides of a horizontal plane, through its center, adjustablemeansto permit predetermined swinging movement of the sub-frame withrespect to the other, and means to permit separation of the respectiveframes as a unit.

4. A subframe suspension mechanism comprising a supporting bar mountableupon the body frame of a vehicle, and transversely thereof, a shacklepivotally mounted at each end of said bar to swing in a vertical planebisecting said bar longitudinally,

an inwardly directed lug carried by each shackle, a verticallyadjustable capscrew inserted in each lug and adapted to engage said barto limit the swinging movement of said shackle, a symmetrically formedleaf spring mounted upon and joining said shackles, and a subframesupported by said spring intermediate its ends.

5. In a motor vehicle, a body frame, a support connecting the sides ofthe frame, a sub-frame adapted'to carry a power plant, means connectingthe support and sub-frame to permit vertical and lateral movement of theframes, and adjustable means carried by the connecting means to limitthe movement of the sub-frame with respect to the body frame.

6. In a motor vehicle, a body frame, a support connecting the sides ofthe frame, depending link members connected to the opposite ends of thesupport, spring means connecting the free ends of the links and disposedspaced fromthe support, a subframe adapted to carry a power plantsupported by the spring means, and adjustable means carried by the linkmembers to limit the vertical and lateral movements of the sub-fran'iewith respect to the main frame.

HENRY E. CURTIS.

